Vacuum-cleaner



N. C. FETTERS AND C. R. RICHARDS.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPucATloN mso JAN. 15, 1920.

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@NI'TED STATES eATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN CRAIG FETTERS AND CHARLES RAYMOND RICHARDS, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Applieation mea January 15.1920. seran No. 351,565.

` T all 'who-mA 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, NORMAN C. FETTERS and CHARLES R. RICHARDS, citizens of the United States, and residents of Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improve# ments in Vacuum-Cleaners; and we do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear,

and exact description ol the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in dust collectors adapted particularly for use in connection with electric sweepers.

In the sweepers now in use, the dust is collected in a fabric bag, the dirt being retained and theair passing out through the interstices in the bag. Some dust also escapes in the same way and the bag after short usage becomes impregnated with dirt.

The object of our invention is to provide f means whereby all the dirt and dust drawn into the cleaner is washed and deposited in a receptacle from which it may be removed at intervals and it consists in the parts and combination of parts as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a. view partly in elevation and partly in section of our improvement applied to a suction sweeper and F ig. 2 is a view in plan of the washer shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings we have shown the dust collector carried by and forming a part of the sweeper, but it is clearly evident that it may be either a fixed or portable structure connected to the sweeper or suction device by a flexible hose, hence we would have it understood that our invention comprehends both types of apparatus,

The sweeper or suction part 5 of the apparatus may be of any approved form, preferably having a suction fan operated by a motor, but the Suction means may be actuated by the wheels 6 on which the suction apparatus is mounted to travel.

The receptacle in which the dust is washed and collected is provided with a throat 7, connected as shown in the drawings, orv by a llexilglenhose as explained with the suction device-"oir sweeper 5 into which the dust and A dirt laden air is forced by the suction fan or other device. This throat is preferably made tapering as shown and coinmunlcates at its restricted lower end withthe duct or pipe 8, which latter forms a continuation of said throat. This duct passes downwardly and in contact with the body 9 of the washer and separator, and terminates approximately at the vertical center of the latter in an upwardly projecting nozzle 8a through which the air and dirt are ejected. The washer and separator 9 is partly filled with water, the normal level of which is above the top of the nozzle so that the latter and the major part of duct 8 are normally full of water. Y

Located within the body of the washer and separator is the sediment chamber 10, constructed to snugly fit within the washer and separator 9. This chamber 10 is provided with a perforated bottom 11, and also with a depending peripheral flange 12 which rests on the lugs 13 formed on the inner` face of washer and separator 9 adjacent the water level, but preferably in a position to hold the perforated bottom 11 in a plane above the normal water level. The chamber 10 is also provided centrally with a vertical tube 14 which is of greater diameter than the diameter of duct 8. The upper end of the tube 14 is preferably adjacent the plane of the top of sediment chamber 10 and the tube passes through the perforated bottom 11, into the water in the washer9 and terminates, preferably in a plane slightly above the plane of the upper end of the nozzle 8a. y

The cover 15 is detachably secured to the upper end of the washer 9 byl any approved means and is provided on its under side with an inverted cone and deflector 16 located with its apex in the plane of the center of the tube 14 so that the water as it is forced up the tube strikes the apex of the cone and is defiected over the upper end of the tube. This cover 15 is provided with openings 17 covered with line mesh wire Screen for the escape of the air, and with a handle 17 by which the cover may be lifted and turned for securing it in place.

In the operation of the apparatus the dust and dirt are drawn into the throat 7 with the air, which is forced by the pressure from the fan or blower through the duct 8, and into and through the water or other liquid in bottom of the body 9 of the washer. The size of the duct 8 is of a diameter proportional to the air pressure so that the latter will be sufficient to force the water out of the duct shortly after the air pressure is applied, the pressure being sufiicicntto drive the dust laden air through the water and up through the tube in the formv of a spray which striking the deflcctor 16 spreads and is deflected over the top of the tube and falls into the sediment chamber 10. T he air carried up with the water is immediately freed and passes out through the wire screens, which are sufficiently restricted to slow down the air. The Water carrying the dirt and dust falls onto the perforated bottom of the chamber 10 which retains the solids and permits the water to drain back into the washer 9. In this manner the liquid is used over again, and as the solids are retained in the chamber l() it forms a filter bed through which the liquid is cleaned before passing into the washer 9. The chamber l0 is of a size sufficient to hold all the dust collected in several weeks of ordinary sweeping and the amount collected can be readily ascertained at any time by simply removing the cover l5. The Water in thewasher can be replenished at any time, and as the chamber 10 is `removable it can be removed and cleaned as often as may be necessary.

It is evident that many slight changes ymight be resorted to in the relative arrangement of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, hence we would have it understood that we do not wish to confine ourselves to the exact construction and arrangement of parts shown and described.

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

l. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct terminating in a plane below the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing the dust laden air into and through the duct and upwardly through the water in the washer, and a sediment chamber above the water compartment into which the dust is deposited and fro-m which the water filters back into the water compartment of the Washer.

2. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct'therein, the outlet end of the duct terminating in a plane below the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing the dust laden air into and through the duct and upwardly through the water in the washer, and a sediment chamber into which the water and saturated dust are deposited, the said chamber being within the washer above the normal water level and provided with a perforated bottom.

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct terminating in a plane below the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing the dust laden air into and through the duct and upwardly through the water in the washer, and a removable sediment chamber into which the water'and saturated dust are deposited.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct pointing upwardly and in a plane below the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing the dust laden air Yinto and through the duct and up through the water in the washer, a sediment chamber within the washer and above the Water in the latter, the said chamber being removable and perforated, a tube within said chamber and in the vertical plane of the outlet end of the duct and a defiector above the tube and in the plane of the latter for delecting the spray into the sediment chamber.

5. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct pointing upwardly and in a plane below .the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing dust laden air into and through the duct and up through the water in the washer, a removable chamber located Within the Washer and having a perforated bottom, a tube passing through the bottom of said chamber and over and in the vertical plane of the outlet end of the duct and a deflector above the upper open end of the tubefor delecting the spray into the sediment chamber.

6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct pointing upwardly and in a plane below the normal water level in the washer, means for forcing dust laden air into and through the duct and up through the water in the washer, a removable sediment chamber within the washer, a vertical tube over the outlet end of the duct, a deector over the upper end of said tube for deflect'ing the spray into the sediment chamber and a removable cover for the washer.

7 In a suction cleaner, the combination of a washer, a duct therein, the outlet end of the duct pointing upwardly and in a plane below the'normal water level in the Washer, means for forcing dust laden air into and through the duct and up through the water in the washer, a removable sedlment chamber in the washer, a tube passing through the bottom of the sediment chamber, the said tube being in the vertical plane of the outlet end of the duct and of greater diameter than the latter, and a removable cover for the washer, the said cover having screened openings.

. 8. The combination with a suction device, of a washer carried thereby and having a. throat communicatin therewith through which dust laden air 1s forced, a duct communicating with said throat and terminating in an upturned end, which is below the normal Water level n the Washer, and a removable sedimentehamber into which the Water and solids forced up by the air blast are deposited, the said sediment chambei` being above the Water level in the Washer, so that the Water deposited in the said chamber will filter back into the Washer.

In testimony whereof We have signed this ing Witnesses.

NORMAN CRAIG FETTERS. CHARLES RAYMOND RNJHARDS.

Witnesses:

C. E. BERTOLET'IE, M., C. WISMER. 

